EPISODE II: WHAT NEXT?

The Battle and Super Battle Droid armies have temporarily closed down their conflict against the remaining brave Jedi fighting within the vast Geonosian Death Arena, under the orders of Count Dooku, now fully revealed as the Separatists' clever and dangerous leader. As our heroes count the cost of their intervention against the enemy, what further evil will Dooku unleash?

A classic angle showing the Jedi, and Padme, from EPISODE II.

'ATTACK' AT 20: THE NEXT RESCUE!

The Republic rescue force arrives for battle. Art by Ryan Church.

The calvary comes to the rescue, in this case Master Yoda and a huge shock force of accompanying Clone Troopers, direct from Kamino, now arriving within the Geonosian Death Arena and providing expert cover fire for all the remaining Jedi and friends to escape and join their comrades in battle against the assembled mass enemy forces out on the desert plains...

"Look!"

Republic gun ship attack!

Creating a defensive perimeter to recover their friends.

Yoda and the new Clone Troopers.

Going into action.

Padme and Anakin continue providing attack and cover fire for themselves and their comrades during the Republic arrival.

The Clones and the Jedi prepare to depart the chaos.

Our main heroic trio escape onto a gunship.

Heading out of the area, the Republic forces prepare for new combat.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Various Jedi in between filming on the Republic gunship about to escape the arena.

Lucas and Samuel L. Jackson clown around with the reference dummy Yoda on set in Australia.

ILM CGI reference image of a Clone Trooper.

Production painting art by Doug Chiang.

'ATTACK' AT 20: TRAPPED IN A KILL ZONE!

Despite their incredible physical skills and lightsaber expertise, the sheer weight of enemy numbers sees many of the Jedi rescue party killed, whilst its survivors, and Pamde Amidala, are corralled to the centre of the arena. Once there, Count Dooku offers the survivors a chance to surrender, of which Mace Windu retaliates that they will not be used as hostages to barter against the Republic. Soon enough, with fake emotion towards his once friends, Dooku orders the droid army to destroy them...

Obi-Wan checks on a fallen friend now dead.

Padme watches as Dooku gives his surrender offer.

Ryan Church concept art for the scene.

BEHIND THE SCENES IMAGES

The survivors gather against Blue screen at the Fox Studios, Australia in 2000.

In between takes at Australia.

Alternate filming of our fab four. Their varying separate action moments were likely cut and paste CGI transferred over various parts of the arena action.

Unused alternate footage of our heroes together in battle.

'ATTACK' AT 20: DEFEATING JANGO FETT!

The end of the line for Jango Fett!

Separated in battle from Obi-Wan (who has now dispatched the Acklay beast and numerous intimidated Battle Droids), Mace Windu finds himself back in the target sites of bounty hunter Jango Fett, who propels himself into the arena for final conflict against the Jedi, though the primal Reek has a grudge to settle first against any humanoid in its riotous path, notably injuring Fett and disabling his jet pack before the bounty hunter ultimately kills it. No longer a threat to Mace Windu, the supreme Jedi fighter makes the graceful killing moves that lead to his separating Jango's head from his body, watched from a distance by a shocked Boba!

Mace and Obi-Wan hip-deep in battle.

The rampant Reek attacks anything in its way, first separating Obi-Wan and Mace, then going for Jango Fett with thunderous skill.

With his rocket backpack damaged, Jango Fett is stuck in the arena...

... whilst Mace retrieves his lightsaber in an alternate take.

"My fight with Jango is a combination of him trying to escape and me trying to stop him. so there are a few elements, of him flying around, shooting projectiles at me, me defending myself and then going on the offensive. And once that happens he's pretty much toast."

Samuel L. Jackson - Lucasfilm promotional interview for EPISODE II - 2001

“Mace’s style (of fighting) is quite economic. If he gets within range, there’s no question-you’re dead.” 

Nick Gillard - Dreamwatch magazine - June 2002

 “George was like, “Hmm, well, there are only two colours. Bad guys have red and good guys have blue. Let me think about it. Then we went back to do some shots in London, he said, “hey, take a look at this.” He pulled up some footage and my lightsaber comes up purple. I was like “Is this just for this or is it going to be like that in the movie?” He goes, “No, you got it.” Purple is my favourite colour, and it has regal overtones, it’s a powerful colour. And then when I’m in big battles scenes off in the distance, I can always say, “Look! There I am, over there.” ” 

 Samuel L. Jackson - Empire magazine - June 2002 

“Mace is not the calmest of Jedis. He’d just as soon saber you in the back.” 

Samuel L. Jackson - Empire magazine - June 2002

Jango takes out the renegade Reek and will rapidly turn his attentions to the approaching Mace. But too late - Jango is soon going...

going...

.... gone!

And a boy will ultimately take on his father's legacy.

BEHIND THE SCENES VARIOUS

Awaiting the cue to 'Action!'

Mace Windu, now arrived in the arena and with his smoky cloak (prior set alight by Jango Fett) soon abandoned.

Mace fighting back in a deflection stance not seen in the movie.

Another unseen moment of Mace using his skills in the arena, or before he retrieves his fallen lightsaber?

Going through some unseen killer lightsaber moves with stunt coordinator supremo Nick Gillard.

Cooling off between takes on the set floor.

Jango stunt double Scott Mclean prepares for action.

An unseen moment of a mid-air Jango firing double blasters. Perhaps at Mace Windu?

Mace takes out Jango.

Lucas goes through the decapitation aftermath with a colleague on set.

Close-up shot of the lone helmet, its insides having been deposited somewhere else in the arena.